It’s the holiday season and the dedication of the volunteers I’ve met never fails to impress. Even holidays are no barrier to developing table tennis with messages coming in from far and wide.

The Olympics

I hope that you have been enjoying the spectacle of the Olympics as much as me and my family. While success evaded Anna and Liam, I was enthralled by the Men’s final. Fantastic to see Table Tennis on the BBC.

Massive thanks to Louis Price for helping to launch the Fanzone. Table Tennis is at the Olympic Fanzone in Bristol with activities planned for the Para Olympics. Why not pop in to Cabot Circus and take you Bat. To find our about the Launch and how to get involved

If you have any open days or taster sessions coming up, why not use the buzz created by the Olympics in your promotion?

Out and About

I’ve spent much of July visiting family in Seattle, where there was water, mountains and wildlife. I took my bats and disappointingly just found one set of outdoor tables outside the head offices of Amazon. I got my sporting fix by playing Pickle Ball in it’s birth place on Bainbridge Island, coached by one of the locals. It’s also the home of Exploding Kittens (for anyone with children). I’ll stop there sparing you my 200 photo presentation!

Keynsham Table Tennis Club

I met Mark Tanner who leads Keysham, we toured the town where Mark had insight into where every table tennis was, the youth club, leisure centre, school and community halls. He understood who was using them and endeavoured to connect everyone. Where the next opportunity to grow the sport? (a new outdoor table outside the tennis courts in a beautiful park). There was so much to digest but one of the take aways was Mark’s innovative use of short videos with some gaining over 5000 views.

Checkout and subscribe to @MarkTannerTT on YouTube. Why not set up your own YouTube Channel? or find someone in your club that would love to do it. Here’s just one of his videos.

Positive Spin – Mylor Bridge Chat and Bat

I met Jane Leigh at one of her fun and friendly Chat and Bat sessions. There was an opportunity to play and improve my forehand top spin which I am grateful for. We spoke about all things Table Tennis in the area, Jane is committed to getting more players into the game, particularly interested in Social Prescribing and women’s Table Tennis Development. Working alongside Creekside TTC it’s interesting to achieve a balance between social table tennis, skill development and encouraging players to step into competitive opportunities.

Here’s the Positive Spin Facebook Page – what a great name!

Across the South West

Joola Plymouth submitted an application to the ‘old’ Sport England Small Grants Scheme. This is half the funding (the other half is from a successful Samworth Brothers Grant), needed to develop a Girls School Club link project which includes setting up a satellite club. Good luck to Debbie Whiting & Graham Pearson, you must have literally been the last applicants in the country.

(The fund has been relaced by the Movement Fund – the focus has changed from the old scheme, more on this in September)

St Austell Table Tennis Club are about to launch the Table Tennis for Good project, with Town Centre events, Table Tennis & hot Meals holiday scheme, Women and Girls taster & tournament, training and tournament for people with learning disabilities and much more. Click here to find out more

I would love to hear about any celebrations, case studies and stories you have. And if you would like them to have published on the South West area page or a snippet you would like to include in the South West monthly blog please send it through and include a photo and quote or get in touch to discuss it.